Hallowed Secularism: Theory, Belief, Practice

Introduction PART I: WHY HALLOWED SECULARISM IS NECESSARY AND HOW IT IS POSSIBLE Secularists' Indifference and Hostility Toward Religion The Roots of Secularism Science Globalization Our Religions The Failure of Secularism No Ground No Limit on Technology No Peace No Truth No Hope No Way of Life The Sources of Depth in Hallowed Secularism Our Religions: History Our Religions: the Personal Science Democracy PART II: THE BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF HALLOWED SECULARISM The Framework of Hallowed Secularism Truth World Man God The Future The Public Life of Hallowed Secularism Democracy Economics Law The Local Life of Hallowed Secularism Family Ritual Prayer International Life of Hallowed Secularism Globalization Religion Law PART III: THE MEANING OF HALLOWED SECULARISM Beyond Religion The Power of Religion The Limits of Religion How Religion Views Hallowed Secularism Hallowed Secularism's Contribution to Religion Beyond Humanism The Power of Humanism The Limits of Humanism How Humanism Views Hallowed Secularism Hallowed Secularism's Contribution to Humanism Beyond Materialism The Power of Materialism Limits of Materialism How Materialism Views Hallowed Secularism Hallowed Secularism's Contribution to Materialism Possibility of Hope Why is There No Hope under Secularism? The Christian Hope Secular Hope The Open Future Conclusion

"Secularism is western society's new reformation, sweeping away the influence of bad religion - but the more it dominates, the more itreveals its weakness and failings.Ledewitz argues not for an end of secularism, but for a reform ofsecularism itself, to rediscover the hope, vision and inspirationthat feed the human soul." - Michael Hampson, Author of God without God"Ledewitz has written a remarkably suggestive and daring book that deserves serious and widespread attention. He begins with a recognition of a practical failure on two sides of the question of reason and revelation. His argument has broad appeal, because he gives compelling articulation to a ground held by many who lack the categories to name what is religiously possible and required in a post-modern world." - Walter Brueggemann, Professor Emeritus, Columbia Theological Seminary"In this thoughtful work, Ledewitz asks all the right questions. He then puts forth an ambitious platform upon which all people, religious and secular, can meet to seek out, work out, and live out answers. His proposal is a useful challenge to everyone. The task is to be true to the open and inquiring spirit of our age while remaining open to the Wisdom of the Ages. To lose either is to lose our hope for the future, our integrity, or both. All religious traditions and non-religious perspectives and the spaces in-between have a place in this arrangement. So with the aid of all the communications technologies available to us today, let the conversation begin!" - Rabbi Carl Choper, Executive Director, The Religion and Society Center, Harrisburg, PA"At a time when new atheist polemics are having some success at setting the secularist agenda, Hallowed Secularism is refreshing and instructive. Ledewitz neither dismisses nor demonizes religion, but rather shows a keen sense for the formative influence of Judaism and Christianity on contemporary western culture, of how secularists today might benefit from continued constructive engagement with doctrines and virtues - such as sin and obedience - inherited from these traditions. The book exhibits an open, self-critical and realistic attitude from which everyone, religious or secular, can learn." - Tyler Roberts, Professor of Religious Studies, Grinnell College; Author of Contesting Spirit: Nietzsche, Religion, Affirmation (1998)